Up next is the Cooper Jaguars, entering their 16th season in program history. The Jaguars are approaching the 2023 season with quite a bit of optimism, coming off back-to-back winning seasons and a plethora of talent returning.
Going 12-9 over the last two seasons is certainly a building block, but now the question begs is when the Jaguars can get over the postseason hump. Their last playoff victory came in 2018, but the past could quickly be erased with the amount of production the Jaguars return.
“I’ve really been impressed with the work ethic, these kids work their tail ends off,” Jaguars coach Randy Borchers said. “They’ve approached things with great attitudes, very little, if any complaining. We feel like we’ve had one of the best offseasons we’ve had in a long time in the weight room and guys are committed. It’s exciting for the entire coaching staff and feel like we’re deeper than we’ve ever been. We feel like we’re further along this time of year than we usually are.”
The Jaguars threw in freshman quarterback Cam O’Hara into the fire last season and he delivered with 2,018 yards passing and 21 touchdowns. Now with a season under his belt and college coaches taking notice with a couple of scholarship offers, the blinkers are off as he enters year two under center.
“I’m really confident. O-line is looking really good. I have weapons on both sides left and right and blessed to have good receivers,” O’Hara said.
Outside of the departure from graduate Eli White, who ran for 842 yards and had 364 yards receiving with 13 combined touchdowns, O’Hara will have plenty of weapons at his disposal, including leading receiver Isaiah Johnson and tight end/slot receiver Austin Alexander. The two combined to catch 67 passes for 1,195 yards and 14 touchdowns as O’Hara’s favorite targets. They also added a transfer from Blanchester, Ohio in Michael Mulvihill, who rushed for 1,415 yards and 20 touchdowns last season.
Alexander made waves this offseason by picking up multiple Power 5 offers, including Kentucky and Louisville. The junior is being recruited as a defensive end, his prowess to get to the quarterback resulting in 11 sacks and 85 tackles in his sophomore season.
“It’s been a really cool experience. It’s cool to be recognized. I just want to be able to bring that exposure to the team. We have a lot of talent and we just need to get the eyes on us,” Alexander said.
He’ll help be disruptive in the backfield while Jack Lonaker anchors the defense, the senior linebacker recording 148 tackles during his junior year.
“We have a really good d-line, they take up double teams and let me run free so it makes it pretty easy. Lot of returning starters, lot of young talent so we’re playing a lot faster and a lot more aggressive this year,” Lonaker said.
While the skill positions are stacked with returning talent, the biggest question entering the season is how they rebuild their offensive line, with all five starters being seniors last season.
“We feel we have eight or nine competing for those spots. Some have accepted roles to move there. Jack Lonaker was moved there because of his leadership and work ethic,” Borchers said. “We’ve moved some kids around and some veteran kids that have significant reps elsewhere. They’re good football players all-around and learning the position. We feel that will solidify our o-line.”
With the majority of the production back, one could still consider the Jaguars as a young team. They’re projected to start just six seniors.
“You can still consider us young, but we have a lot of kids returning and started a lot of sophomores last year. We’ll start three seniors on each side of the ball,” Borchers said.
The Jaguars first half of the schedule should have them ready for what will be considered a war the second half when they get into district play and the newly formed Class 5A, 6th District that welcomes Scott and Dixie Heights while Covington Catholic departs. Highlands is considered the preseason favorite while the Jaguars and Dixie Heights will be in the mix to contend. Not to downplay the rivalry Cooper has with county foes Conner and Boone County as well.
“Highlands is your No. 1. They have a lot back and is the team to beat. The rest of the pack will be right there. It’s just a matter of who can kind of put it together in the second half of the season,” Borchers said. “We’ll have five games that will be battles and with a six-team district, two of them will be sitting at home come November. You certainly don’t want to be sitting at home and you want to be a top-two seed because our sister district is Scott County and Woodford County, so you want to set yourself up to not have to play those teams in back-to-back weeks come postseason.”
A stiff test will begin Cooper’s season as they travel over two hours down to Bardstown to take on the Class 3A runner-up from a season ago. They’ll host Henry Clay before taking on rival Ryle in what should be an intruiging QB battle between O’Hara and the Raiders Logan Verax. Campbell County then comes to Union before they travel to Georgetown to take on Great Crossing with five district games to follow.
Other players to watch for the Jaguars will be linebackers Lucas Hughes and Mason Stanton, defensive backs Isaac Brown and Elijah Harrison, offensive lineman Mason Baesel and running back Keagan Maher.
SCHEDULE
DATE OPPONENT SITE TIME
Aug 18, 23 Bardstown away 7:30 PM Aug 25, 23 Henry Clay home 7:30 PM Sep 1, 23 Ryle away 7:00 PM Sep 8, 23 Campbell County home 7:30 PM Sep 15, 23 Great Crossing away 7:30 PM Sep 22, 23 Highlands home 7:30 PM Sep 29, 23 Conner away 7:00 PM Oct 5, 23 Scott away 7:00 PM Oct 13, 23 Boone County home 7:30 PM Oct 20, 23 Dixie Heights home 7:30 PM